Women Sleep Better Next To A Dog Than A Man, Study Finds
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We all know sleep is very important, and as such, we should all do all we can to get a good night's kip. And it seems for women, they may get a better sleep if they share their bed with their dog, rather than a man.
This is according to a study by Dr. Christy L. Hoffman, a professor in the Animal Behaviour, Ecology, and Conservation department at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and her team of researchers.
They surveyed 962 adult women in the US and found that on average, women who slept with their dog or dogs reported better sleep, as opposed to women who sleep with a man. They also found that women who share a bed with both a dog and a man found their dog to be less disruptive, while also providing a greater sense of security and comfort.
By contrast, cats were found to be as disruptive as humans while not providing the same sense of security as a dog or a human. However cats could be better suited to night owls, as dog owners were found to go to bed and rise earlier than cat owners.
But Dr Hoffman was keen to make clear that a dog might not be the solution for everybody.
Speaking to Broadly, she said the 'keyword here is perception, this [study is based on] individuals self-reporting how they feel their sleep is affected' and it's 'important to note that this is based on aggregated data and an average of responses, so getting a dog won't solve everyone's sleep problems'.
Suppose that makes sense, after all, some dogs snore and need to get up for a piss in the middle of the night, just like men. Plus sharing a bed with a St Bernard is hardly going to be the same as cosying up next to a Pomeranian or something.
Still, the dog is hardly gonna barge in at 3am stinking of booze is it?
Dr Hoffman said she hopes to study the effect of dogs on the sleep of men in the future, but in the meantime, looks like the blokes need to get on the sofa.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: News, Interesting, Sleep, Animals
